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Atlantic Beach resident Richard Stratton, second from left, is honored in his hometown of Quincy, Mass., recently. The veteran and former POW is joined by, from left, his son, Patrick; wife, Alice; daughter in-law, Dawn; and granddaughter Amanda.
Retired Navy Capt. Richard A. Stratton was honored in his hometown of Quincy, Mass., recently.
Stratton and his wife, Alice, who have lived in Atlantic Beach since 1993, were joined for the Oct. 18 and 19 celebration by their son, Patrick, and daughter-in-law, Dawn, also of Atlantic Beach, and their granddaughter, Amanda, of New York City.
Quincy Mayor Tom Koch led the celebration of Stratton’s patriotism and service to his country. There was a Friday night dinner, attended by many area dignitaries and veterans. On Saturday, a portion of Arlington Way in Quincy was renamed Captain Richard A. Stratton Way.
In addition, a large historical marker was placed at the corner of Stratton Way and Squantum Street, within walking distance of the military hero’s childhood home. Stratton and his family spent the weekend at the newly-built Staybridge Suites on Stratton Way which has several permanent displays about Stratton’s military service throughout its lobby.
When World War II started, Stratton and eight of his friends, including two women, went to war.
Stratton joined the Massachusetts National Guard while a junior at North Quincy High School. After graduation, he joined the seminary where he spent six years. Before graduating from Georgetown University, he was joining the Navy Flight Program. Richard and Alice married in 1959 and had three sons before he deployed on the USS Ticonderoga in support of the Vietnam War.
Stratton was shot down over North Vietnam in January 1967 and endured years of torture and deprivation, along with many other American prisoners of war, including pilot John McCain. Upon his release in March 1973 he was awarded the Silver Star with valor, the Purple Heart, two Air Medals, a Combat Action and the Prisoner of War medal. He had 22 combat missions.
Alice Stratton was instrumental in ensuring the plight of American prisoners in Vietnam was publicly known during his captivity. She also served as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy during the Reagan administration. Military service continues in the family, as two of the Strattons' sons and one of their daughters-in-law went on to serve in the Marine Corps. They also have a granddaughter, Allyson, a graduate of Bishop Kenny High School, who serves in the Coast Guard in Hawaii.
Stratton does a podcast with his oldest son, Patrick; search for “Yankee Air Pirate.”